Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Wherein our heroes travel to the Ogrefist Mountains to seek counsel and assistance from Jarl Tryggvi Stangbern. What sinister occurrences might they encounter on their journey? What friends and foes might they meet and will they be able to tell the difference?

Thursday, November 15, 2012

I don’t particularly know what to make of our recent journey. A decision was made to recover the information gleaned from the Frumentarii that was previously thought lost or unknown. Sorina offered up her vessel to take us to Snakefang Straight, the location of the shipwreck that held this information.
Being mostly useless on the open water (and to my dismay, completely unused to sea travel), I stayed below decks, doing my best to keep from showing any signs of sea sickness. I was more fortunate than some of the others, because when the storm whipped up, I was one of the few of us landlubbers who were not overtly sick. The storm did give us one advantage though; it caused our little stowaway to reveal herself as well, as I heard her retching underneath the covers that she had concealed herself with. It was fortunate that the Thane knew her, as I was more than willing to throw her overboard.While the child was largely inconsequential, an annoyance more than anything, the item that she had smuggled aboard with her was completely the opposite. She had stolen a great sword from her family, and when I took it from her, it attacked me.Come to find out, this sword was one that was wielded by the Demon of the Free Valleys. Considering the effect it had on me when I merely touched it, I don’t have much reason to doubt that the sword is genuine, as stories had been told of how the demon had cut down countless Ashen Kingdom troops when they attempted to liberate the valleys from his iron grip.
After the magician inspected the sword, he gave it over to the Thane, who, to what should be no one’s surprise, immediately declared himself the new Hero of the Free Valleys and called the sword his own.
I hope you can see why I may find this somewhat troubling.
We ended up in the straight, which looked like a shipyard for the damned. With David’s help, we were able to find a path up into the cliffs, where we met an ancient priest of the goddess Asasara, the same goddess of the temple we discovered during the Adder Crag fiasco. I’m not a fan of coincidence.
After conversing with the priest, I found that he and his now absent apprentice believed that they had recovered items from the shipwreck we were looking for, as well as the lone survivor of the wreck, who had died not long after. The priest told us that if we were to perform a devotion, that he would allow us to take the items that he had salvaged. I agreed, and he prepared a tea and lead us to a chamber.
I can’t particularly say what happened at that point. It didn’t make much sense, and I only have vague recollections of what went on. We were drugged (which was of no surprise, mind you), and we seemed to have some kind of joint hallucination, and we woke up and we got what we needed. And then others asked for more, because apparently we need all the help we can get. I don’t particularly disagree with that, but even so, panhandling is such a disgraceful practice.
The documentation we received was both enlightening and disturbing. It will take me some time to digest the information that I found, but suffice it to say that even if I was not sworn by blood to reveal the secrets of my people, I would still keep this information from my new companions. I can only hope that the documentation was just information, and not something that has already begun to be implemented. Because if it has, I shudder to think of what could be wrought of it if it comes to pass.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

I am so very near Last Rest that it
pains me to know I cannot see you. If you should find occasion, a
short vacation near the coast may be in order.

But, this letter is not about my
dreams; nor your’s. I am writing to let you know Carson has found
me. She is quite safe, and I have assured her I would keep her that
way. She has found the Locklight bloodline to be objectionable, and,
having heard my praises from your gentle lips, she decided she may be
better off relocated. Please do not worry after her. I am well
aware my current lifestyle does not suit the care of a beautiful
young woman such as Carson, so I have requested a friend take her in
and teach her the true meaning of nobility.

I will write you again once
arrangements have been finalized. You may expect correspondence from
her through similar means.

Tryggvi, please do not think what I am
about to ask you presumptuous, because it is not a question I ask
lightly. But, in this case, I believe you to be my best option.

I assume you remember Karin, I spoke so
often of her I doubt you could forget even if you wanted. Karin’s
young cousin Lady Carson has met will ill fortune as of late, losing
both of her parents and going to live in the Locklight household
because of her relation with Karin.

Carson could not abide living with the
Locklights, as I can very well understand. Having heard Karin’s
stories of me, Carson ran away to find me, and find me she did. She
has asked for refuge with me, but as you would expect I very much
doubt my current traveling lifestyle is suitable for the education of
a young girl.

My hope is that you would be willing to
take on the safety and education of this fine young girl. When I am
finally able to live my life with Karin we of course would take over
her care.

I send this letter ahead to give you
time to think. You may try to reach me by messenger, but that is at
time easier said than done. If I do not hear from you I will be on
my way to speak with you in person.

Jerrod -
I am writing to tell you that I have found it. We are heading back to Restport now, and I can not wait to get off this accursed boat. I have sifted through the information, and mind you there is quite a bit, and have found the main piece of information that was of high importance. There needs to be some more delving into all of the information, but I feel that this is a huge victory. Now the only problem is getting it back to a safe place. I feel like there will be a short delay on our travel as there is a stowaway on the ship that needs to be taken care of, but I hope that it won't take too long.
-Norah

Now it is clear, these folk are a rabble.
They have no way to guide others because they are new as babies born
themselves. And the soldier, who is canny to the world’s ways will not
lead. He is a defender and born to support a true leader. Likewise the
Cigany woman. Though she and the trader are rich, they run a crew of
men far different than their accounts. Which is to say with slack and
full play in the line. Though I must credit her full marks for that
stormy passage. I thought sure we would die on the rocks.
Still it is better to want rule than chafe under iron discipline of a
petty tyrant.
If this company will last and make a real worthy enterprise someone
must take the wheel. All must deliberate well, decide our course and
hold fast to it.
Sometimes I envy that hawk the soldier keeps. I would look down on
high and check that what we’ve done has caused no lasting evil. How is
that young girl in the hill lands? How fares the priest? Does the evil
army march on us? What dark purpose does the traitor bring to the
North?
Och, I will take my leave of this company for a week or so. A break
away from this motley crew will do my heart and body good. I should
reacquaint myself with the port folk and see what intelligence I can
find on all these loose ends.

Well, best not to elaborate too much on these days, lest this fall
into the hands of others.
My heart goes out to that Cigany girl. They are a traveling people, I
hope she made it away.
At some point, this crew will need a captain. The foolishness and
havering of the night’s work has made that plain. And what code have
these members of my company? They seem to care little for propriety
one minute and then cleave to it wholly the next.
Best stay back and hold still from now on, and let this play out a bit.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Wherein our heroes return from the dangerous waters Snakefang Strait and arrive back in Restport. What will they do with their newly learned intelligence? How will they handle the situation of the runaway, Carson Bosworth? What will they do with their newly acquired artifacts? But most importantly, what dangers await their return in Restport?